All that were seen at this time had large pieces of it, which appeared to have been laid upon the fire only long enough to scorch the outside.

In this state they always eat their fish, never broiling it for more than a few minutes; they broil also the fern root, and another root, of which the plant is not yet known; and they usually eat together in families.

Among the fruits used by them is a kind of wild fig; and they eat also the kernels of that fruit which resembles a pine-apple.

The latter, when eaten by some of the French seamen, occasioned violent retchings; possibly the natives may remove the noxious qualities, by some process like those employed upon the cassada.

The winter months, in which fish is very scarce upon the coast, are June, July, August, and part of September.